This Is Our Moment: A Bold, People-First Vision to Transform the Gas Plant into St. Pete’s Next Great Legacy

Let’s Get the Gas Plant Right 

With the Tampa Bay Rays moving on after their lease ends, the city of St. Petersburg regains full control of the 86-acre Gas Plant site – a rare and powerful opportunity. The property can become something special. Something lasting. Something that reflects the spirit of our city.  

This could be the most important development decision in the city’s modern history. The moment calls for big thinking, and thoughtful planning – an opportunity to imagine something new – and something better. 

It also demands that we take the time to get it right. 

Rick Baker has some very good thoughts   

Former Mayor Rick Baker recently shared his vision for the site in the Tampa Bay Times. He called it “St. Pete Commons.” And his idea is a great start toward reimagining the Gas Plant property.   

As he points out, “Our city has one of the most vibrant, walkable and amazing downtowns in the country.” 

A Park Could Be a Big Win 

Rick suggests a major park on the site. That’s worth real consideration. 

Think about our waterfront. It’s one of the best things about living in St. Pete. Why? Because past leaders like Perry Snell and Noel Mitchell fought to protect that land for public use. They didn’t build it for profit. Instead, they built it for people. Now, we have a chance to do the same again. 

A large green space at the Gas Plant could become the heart of a new neighborhood. It could be built to contain the elements seen in other great urban parks seen around the U.S. and elsewhere:  shaded jogging trails, fountains, etc.  And it could host festivals, markets, sports, or just be a place to relax under the trees. Parks add value to cities. Always. 

Yes, St. Petersburg has many parks.  But not all serve the same purpose – and not all are equally accessible.  The Gas Plant site is in the geographic and historic part of the city, making it the most equitable and visible place to create something that belongs to everyone.  

Cultural Anchors – For Sure    

“The arts have anchored our downtown’s renaissance for the past 25 years.”

We agree.  Let’s lean into what’s made St. Pete unique—our arts and culture.  

And we can finally make room for the proposed African American History Museum. Add galleries, maker spaces, or a small performance venue. The arts have helped put St. Pete on the map. Let’s make them part of this new chapter too. 

Jobs and Opportunity

Mayor Welch has made it clear: the redevelopment of the Gas Plant must honor our Black community. That means jobs. That means ownership. And that means opportunity.  Rick echoes those sentiments. 

As the site is developed, thousands of construction and support jobs will be created. Once completed, new shops, offices, clinics, restaurants, and cultural institutions will offer long-term employment.  

This is a chance to build a true economic engine—one that works for everyone.  

We should also revisit the idea of bringing the Moffitt Cancer Center back to the table. A project like that would bring high-quality healthcare, research jobs, and community access to top-tier services.  

But – everyone does not agree after that

Rick suggests we consider a 30- acre park. Others like the idea of a park, but not using quite so much valuable land.  Or park land meandering along an opened Book Creek, and then public squares throughut the property. 

Others recommend that the city go through an RFP (Request for Proposal) process to ask major developers to propose how they would develop the whole property, and then turn over the development to them.  We think the city should do it itself, as explained below.  

Still others have different opinions on the density of the development, and the amount, if any, of affordable housing.

We think that the city should adopt relatively high-density zoning for the developable parcels, consistent with zoning density in other healthy high-growth U.S. cities today – in order to generate maximum income to the city from the sale of parcels, and to have a sufficient population and income base in the immediate area to support retail and restaurants, both within the Gas Plant site but also in the surrounding areas.

As discussed below, we also feel that when it comes to affordable housing, in most cases, the city should sell blocks of the property at what we think would be high prices and use the funds to build affordable housing citywide, on land that does not cost as much.  This way we get more affordable housing. 

But others favor lower density and affordable housing on the site as part of the mix, where teachers, nurses, artists, and young families can live.  They question whether there are sufficient sites in other parts of the city   

These aren’t simple choices.  Valuable land presents real trade-offs.    

What the City Should Do – A Better Way to Develop the Gas Plant 

What should the city do?  How do we determine what’s best for St. Petersburg?  How do we insure an outcome we all want?

This moment requires a clear, responsible path forward.

Here’s how St. Petersburg can lead: 

Do it ourselves – not an RFP – not a Request for Proposal to develop the whole property  

We agree with Rick and as we pointed out previously,  “Rather than turning the site over to another master developer.”  the city should do it itself.  Don’t hand over all 86 acres to one developer or one vision. Let it evolve over time with community input and flexible uses. This  approach has already worked in places like the Edge District and Grand Central. It allows for diversity, creativity, and character.  And it avoids putting too much power in the hands of one developer.  Why would we want one developer to decide how all this property is developed?

And in the case of the Gas Plant, the overall concept is not that complicated.  

We agree with Rick’s plan.  Put back  in north/south and east/west streets that tie into  the existing city grid.  With the park in the middle.  

Why the City Should Lead, Not Just Issue an RFP

Some argue that the city should issue an RFP and let private developers shape the future of the Gas Plant site. But that’s not the best path forward.

An RFP puts developers in the driver’s seat. Their priority is often profit, not public good. When the city relies on private bidders to dictate the plan, it loses control over the balance of community needs.

Instead, the city should create the overall plan. It should decide how much land becomes public park, where commercial space fits, and how other parcels might support jobs, housing, and culture. Then, it can bring in builders to carry out the vision—parcel by parcel—based on what’s already been decided.

Cities like New York, Boston, and Philadelphia have done this successfully. They led. They controlled the vision. Developers came in to execute, not to dictate.

This approach builds trust. Residents know the city is working for them—not just for the highest bidder. It also gives the city more leverage to negotiate on affordability, sustainability, and equity. The city sets the standards; developers compete to meet them.

This is our chance to think big, act boldly, and make sure the Gas Plant site delivers long-term value to St. Petersburg—not just short-term returns to a few.

Affordable Housing: Ask the Right Questions, Make the Right Plan

Our position has been clear: the city should sell the Gas Plant land at market value and use those proceeds to build affordable housing on less costly land elsewhere. That approach creates more units, stretches dollars further, and preserves the Gas Plant site for a city-defining park.

Still, some raise a valid concern: What if there isn’t enough land elsewhere?

That’s why the city needs a full housing needs assessment. What types of affordable housing are most needed? At what income levels? Should rents be capped at 60% of market rate? 80%? And how many total units would actually meet demand?

Next, the city should take a hard look at land it already owns. Are there public parcels—underused or overlooked—that could be repurposed for housing? This might not be easy, but it’s doable with the right analysis.

And don’t do it alone. Bring in affordable housing developers early. They know what works financially and what doesn’t. These conversations might even lead to zoning changes to allow greater density where it makes sense.

With this information—clear needs, viable sites, and realistic plans—the city will be in a much stronger position to determine whether any of the Gas Plant land should include housing. Until then, let’s stay focused on what we do know: creating a public park on this land is a once-in-a-generation opportunity we can’t afford to miss.

Hire a Respected, Independent Land Planner

With the plan to re-establish the streets to tie into the existing grid, and with a park in the middle, hire a top-tier urban planning firm to flesh out the details.     

The chosen firm’s plan should consider traffic flow, walkability,  building height limits, residential density limits, safety and rezoning, as well as environmental, economic, and cultural and aesthetic considerations.  Of course the plan should provide sufficient space for police/fire resources, museums and other public use facilities. 

The plan should also include advise on the optimal park size, and a survey of of “greatest hits” park elements seen in other successful urban parks around the world in cities which have a climate similar to coastal Florida.  

We would recommend that priority be given to park elements which have daily – rather than sporadic – relevance to local citizens.  For example, a shaded walking/jogging path.

The existence of Campbell Park close by – an active park with athletic fields, and the Mclin pool –  actually simplifies the design of the St. Pete Commons.  The city does not  need to duplicate most of the park elements there, but it would be good for the plan to tie the two parks together with pleasant walkways.  And the plan should tie the parks into the planned underutilized space beneath interstate 275 as described by St. Pete Rising. 

Launch a Robust Community Engagement Process

Once the city and the land planner have completed their first draft, present the concept publicly and assess feedback from residents.    

Develop the infrastructure

Due to the city’s obligation to operate Tropicana Field for the Rays until the fall of 2028,  we have time to thoughtfully consider and plan a Commons-centered development for the whole Historic Gas Plant site.  However, in the interim it may be possible to begin construction of utilities, some streets and other infrastructure. 

No development before the plan for the entire site is complete.

We strongly advise against starting any work on the Gas Plant site without first establishing the comprehensive plan for the entire area (including the land currently occupied by Tropicana Field) – a plan shaped by meaningful community engagement.  Anything less would fall short of best practices in equitable and sustainable urban development.  

For example, the city has an obligation to provide 7,000 parking spaces for baseball.  It would not be advisable to build parking garages for baseball in order to free up land for development, unless those garages are part of the entire plan,  including the  Tropicana Field area.    

Sell the land

In the interim, it may also be possible for the city to begin sales of land parcels.  And again, while we’re not sure that’s such a good idea, it absolutely should not happen  before the overall plan for the entire site (including what was the Trop) has been firmly established.  Whether that can happen or the city must wait until after the Rays move out, the process should be the same.  Sell the parcels one piece at a time, in an orderly, patient fashion at market prices.  Let a mix of local and national builders bring the site to life, allowing diverse developers to develop parcels with their own money and shape the area according to their own visions of what would be in the best interests of St. Petersburg.

Move Deliberately, Not Hastily

There’s no deadline that justifies rushing this. Let’s take the time to understand what’s possible and what’s best—not just for now, but for the next 50 years.  But let’s be ready with a plan when baseball ends, so we are ready to  move forward.   

The result 

A vibrant, mixed-use community preserving St. Petersburg’s unique character – ending up with a diverse and authentic neighborhood like others throughout St. Petersburg.  

Once in a lifetime

This is a moment of choice for St. Petersburg.  We can either rush into another big project and roll the dice that it can be financed and turns out well.  Or we can take a careful, and people-first approach.   

Let’s not treat the redevelopment of the Gas Plant like a routine real estate deal. This is more than a project – it’s a legacy.  If we plan with care, listen with humility, and lead with vision, it can be a legacy for the community that will make us all proud.   

So, let’s take our time. Let’s dream big. Let’s build St. Petersburg’s next great neighborhood.   

Let’s Get Involved 

Tell your neighbors. Talk to your council member. Ask them to support a commonsense approach.  

And leave us your thoughts/comments below– what do you think about the plan?

The Gas Plant site is too important to get wrong. 

Let’s make it a home run—for everyone.